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If you’re a long-time Microsoft Outlook user, you may notice that Outlook gets slow after a lot of usage. This problem often gets blamed on Outlook itself, but it is most often user-induced. Learning and executing a few housekeeping tips can help keep Outlook running quickly and smoothly.

1. Auto Archive Folders

Each of the emails you receive in a day that aren’t deleted end up staying in your inbox. What do you do with them? You can’t delete them because they might be important one day, but eventually, they can fill up your inbox and slow down the speed at which Outlook boots. Luckily, Outlook’s feature called Auto Archive can automatically clean out your inbox and store these messages where they can be accessed later if need be, but aren’t using space in your inbox. To find directions on how to do this, visit Microsoft Support here.

2. Disable/Remove Add-ins

Add-ins are used to add new features and commands to your Office programs. They can be helpful at times, however, they can contribute to slowing down Outlook. Disabling and/or removing add-ins that are no longer useful to you will speed Outlook up again. Microsoft has a support page (here) that can walk you through how to do this.

3. Keep Outlook Updated

In order to keep Outlook running well, it is very important to keep it updated. Not only does this keep your application running smoothly, it also keeps your information more secure through security patch updates. For instructions on how to update, visit the Microsoft Support page for Outlook Updates.

4. Compact .PST File

According to Microsoft, large mailboxes can be slow, and many email providers even put a maximum limit to how much can be stored in your inbox. Simply deleting messages and folders is sometimes not enough to get your storage space back. If your information is stored in an Outlook Data File (.pst), you need to compact the data file to reduce the size. You can find instructions on how to do that here.

5. Empty the Trash

Perhaps the most simple tip is to empty the trash. When users forget to, or simply don’t empty the trash at all, these messages are stored in .pst files and can get very large. Unwanted messages stored in the trash are a waste of valuable space and they can also slow down Outlook’s boot time. So why not delete them from your trash and gain some room for the important messages?

Using these 5 tips will keep your Outlook application running smoothly and keep you productive. Microsoft has many more tips for support on your Microsoft Office Programs. You can see those here.

Whether you’re traveling for work or taking a long-awaited vacation, make sure your information stays secure with these tips from ITS.

1.  Set an out-of-office email

As a working professional, it is important to set an out-of-office email if you will be away from your email for one or more days. This is a very simple process and only takes a few minutes to set up. Doing this will help your clients, customers, and colleagues set an expectation of when you will respond. This is especially important if you have people who may inquire with you about emergency issues. Setting up an out-of-office email will allow those who try to contact while you’re away to notice that you will not arrive back at work until the time you specify. This is done through sending an automatic email.

Follow these steps to set up your out-of-office email:

Outlook:

1. Select File > Out of Office
2. In the Automatic Replies box, select “Send automatic replies.” You can also optionally set a range of dates for the automatic replies to take place. If a date range is set, automatic replies will turn off at the date and time you entered. If you do not set a date and time range for automatic replies, then automatic replies will need to be turned off manually.
3. Select “OK” to save your settings.

Gmail:

1. On your computer, open Gmail.
2. Select Settings
3. Scroll down to the vacation responder section.
4. Select Vacation responder on
5. Fill in the date range, subject, and message.
6. You have the option to select if you only want your contacts to receive your vacation message. If you would like this, then check the box and select Save Changes. If not, leave the box de-selected and select Save Changes.

(You can also set vacation response on Android and iPhone Apps. Instructions will vary slightly.)

2.  Set a delegate to receive your emails while you’re away

If you would rather not set up an out-of-office email while you’re away and have the emails you receive forwarded automatically to a delegate instead, below are instructions on how to do that. One benefit of setting a delegate instead of out-of-office email is that the email sender will not have to go the extra distance to get the assistance they may need right away. Their email will instead be automatically forwarded to someone who can answer their questions or solve their problem. Note that once you add a delegate, they stay a delegate until you manually remove them as delegate.

Follow these steps to set a delegate:

Outlook:

Mac:

1. On the Tools menu, select Accounts.
2. Select the Exchange account that you will use to access the delegated items, select Advanced, and then select Delegates.
3. Under People I am a delegate for, select Add (plus button).
4. Type the name of the person who added you as a delegate.
5. Select the person’s name in the search results, and then select Add.

Windows:

1. Click the File tab.
2. Click Account Settings, and then click Delegate Access.
3. Click Add. If Add doesn’t appear, an active connection might not exist between Outlook and Exchange. The Outlook status bar displays the connection status.
4. Type the name of the person whom you want to designate as your delegate, or search for and then click the name in the search results list.
5. Click Add, and then click OK.

Note: to remove a delegate from your Outlook email, simply follow the same steps outlined above just change the Add button to Minus for removal.

Gmail:

Add a delegate:

1. Open Gmail (you can’t add delegates from the Gmail app)
2. In the top right, click Settings.
3. Click Settings
4. Click the Accounts and Import or Accounts tab
5. In the “Grant access to your account” section, click Add another account. Note: If you’re using Gmail through your work or school, your organization may restrict email delegation. If you don’t see this setting, contact your admin.
6. Enter the email address of the person you want to add. (Note: The account you’re delegating must have “Require user to change password at next sign-in” disabled.)
7. Click Next Step > Send email to grant access.
8. The person you added will get an email asking them to confirm. It may take up to 24 hours for you to see them as a delegate after they confirm.

Note: The invitation expires after a week.

Remove a delegate:

1. On your computer, open Gmail. You can’t set up delegates from the Gmail app.
2. In the top right, click Settings.
3. Click Settings
4. Click the Accounts and Import tab
5. In the “Grant access to your account” section, click Delete next to the account you want to remove.

More Information on what a delegate can and can’t do.

Can do:

• Send or reply to emails that were sent to you. When they send a message, their email address will show. For example the sender will show as “sent by johnsmith@gmail.com.”
• Read messages sent to you.
• Delete messages sent to you.

Can’t do:

• Chat with anyone for you
• Change your Gmail password.

3.  Take caution when using public WiFi

These days, public WiFi is almost everywhere. From the local coffee shop, to the gym, and to the airport. We live in a world where people feel the need to be constantly connected, so having access to WiFi almost everywhere we go is a great thing. Public WiFi is convenient and tempting to use especially while traveling when your private network is out of reach. However, using public WiFi poses certain security risks to your personal information. If you must connect to public WiFi, here are some helpful tips to keep in mind and help you keep your information safe.

When possible, connect to a secure public network

In order to best protect your information in a public place, try to connect to a secure public network whenever possible. However, if it is not possible to connect to a secure public network and only unsecured networks are available, make sure the network has some sort of login or registration before you’re able to use it.

Make sure you are on an encrypted HTTPS

It is easy for people to watch what you’re doing when you browse over unencrypted HTTP, however, with encrypted HTTPS, you can be on the same Wi-Fi network as others and, since HTTPS is encrypted, they won’t be able to see what you’re doing to snatch your sensitive information. About a year ago, Google Chrome started letting you know when you’re visiting a site that uses an HTTP instead of an HTTPS connection by labelling the latter as “Not Secure.” ITS advises you to make sure you take this warning seriously.

Use a Virtual Private Network

Of course, the most effective way to protect your information while on public Wi-Fi is to install a Virtual Private Network (VPN). VPNs encrypt data traveling to and from your laptop or phone, and hooks you up to a secure server.

Technology is constantly changing and with this, comes the nearly impossible task of keeping your systems up-to-date and running smoothly, all while tending to the daily maintenance requests of your team. Many businesses and schools decide to push their IT team to try to keep up with all IT needs, but this often results in an overextension of the team. The danger with and overextended IT team is the risk of scrambling to solve the microscopic problems such as those submitted in the form of helpdesk tickets, that they fail to notice the larger, more macroscopic problems. This, in turn, will eventually result in an eruption of frustration among employees when their tech products aren’t running as they should.

This is where ITS can help…

ITS can assist your current IT team or even make up your entire IT team, and ensure that your business or school never overlooks the big problems, your information stays safe, and your operations team, efficient.

With many clients to serve, how do we provide exceptional service to each and every one of them?

ITS accomplishes this in our ability to remotely and proactively monitor and support your networked devices. This is done with the help of an appliance named “BOB” (The “Backup and Observation Box”), which is installed on your network as the eyes and ears of any problems that could arise on your devices and processes. With BOB‘s help, ITS can offer support and data backup 24 x 7 x 365.

Our management services:

ITS offers a wide variety of options when it comes to managed IT services. The configuration of managed services can differ depending on the needs of the business/school. In other words, we can be as involved as you would like us to be. The configuration of services we provide to each business or school is unique. Our service packages are completely customizable and are designed to support your network, devices, staff, and students to keep your business or school performing ahead of the curve.

Managed IT services are a cost-effective way to ensure your business or school stays up-to-date in it’s technology needs and allows your personal IT team (if you have one) to focus on managing the microscopic problems that may arise in your business/school; keeping your operations running smoothly and employees’ frustration with technology at bay.